Jerry Lucas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jerry Lucas

Lucas in 1961
Personal information
Born	(1940-03-30) March 30, 1940 (age 85) Middletown, Ohio, U.S.
High school	Middletown (Middletown, Ohio)
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
College	Ohio State (1959–1962)
NBA Draft	1962 / Pick: territorial pick
Selected by the Cincinnati Royals
Pro career	1962–1974
Career history
1963–1969	Cincinnati Royals
1969–1971	San Francisco Warriors
1971–1974	New York Knicks
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (1973) 7× NBA All-Star (1964–1969, 1971) NBA All-Star Game MVP (1965) 3× All-NBA First Team (1965, 1966, 1968) 2× All-NBA Second Team (1964, 1967) NBA Rookie of the Year (1964) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1964) NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th) NCAA champion (1960) 2× NCAA Final Four MOP (1960, 1961) 2× Consensus National College Player of the Year (1961, 1962) 3× Consensus first-team All-American (1960–1962) 2× NCAA rebounding leader (1961, 1962) 3× First-team All-Big Ten (1960–1962) No. 11 retired by Ohio State Buckeyes 2× Mr. Basketball USA (1957, 1958) 2× First-team Parade All-American (1957, 1958)
Career NBA statistics
Points	14,053 (17.0 ppg)
Rebounds	12,942 (15.6 rpg)
Assists	2,732 (3.3 apg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  United States Olympic Games Gold 1960 Rome Team competition

Jerry Ray Lucas (born March 30, 1940) is a famous American former basketball player. He was a top player in high school and college. He also won a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics. Later, he became a star in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

In college, Lucas led the Ohio State Buckeyes to three straight NCAA championship games. They won the national title in 1960. He was named the NCAA Player of the Year twice.

As a professional, Lucas was chosen for the All-NBA First Team three times. He was an NBA All-Star seven times. He was also the 1964 NBA Rookie of the Year. In 1980, he was added to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He is one of only eight players to achieve the "basketball Triple Crown." This means winning a high school, college, Olympic, and NBA championship.

Early Life and Basketball Beginnings

Jerry Ray Lucas was born on March 30, 1940, in Middletown, Ohio. This town was known as "The Basketball Capital of Ohio." Its high school basketball teams were very successful. Young Jerry was tall and loved the game. He quickly became very good at it.

Middletown also had great summer basketball games at Sunset Park. College players would come to play there. By age 15, Jerry was 6'7" tall. He played against these college players. This helped him improve his game a lot. He was even better than some college players before he started high school.

Jerry was also very smart. He was an A-student and loved to memorize things. He even made up memory games for himself. He could quickly put words in alphabetical order. This sharp mind also helped him understand basketball strategies.

High School Success

Lucas started playing for Middletown High in 1955. He was only 15 but could already play above the rim. His coach, Paul Walker, had won state titles before. Jerry always had strong teammates around him. As a sophomore, he focused on getting rebounds and passing. But he also scored a lot of points.

Middletown's team was undefeated. They played strong teams from other cities. One game in Cincinnati drew over 13,000 fans. This was a huge crowd for a high school game. Jerry was great at rebounding. He also made 60% of his shots and 75% of his free throws.

The Middletown team went undefeated in 1955–56 and 1956–57. They won two state championships. His senior year, they lost only one game. This ended their 76-game winning streak. Lucas scored 34 points per game on average. He even scored more points than Wilt Chamberlain did in high school.

Many fans watched Lucas play. He received scholarship offers from over 150 colleges. He was one of the most famous high school players in the country. Jerry also competed in track and field. He finished third in discus at the state meet in 1957. He was also a member of the National Honor Society.

Lucas finished his high school career with 2,460 points. He led his team to a 76–1 record in three years. They reached the state final four three times. They won two state championships.

College Career Highlights

Lucas in action with Ohio State in 1960

Many colleges wanted Jerry Lucas. He chose Ohio State University. He joined a great group of new players in 1958. This group included future Hall of Famers John Havlicek and Bob Knight. Lucas insisted on an academic scholarship. He continued to be an A-student in college.

In those days, freshmen could not play on the main college teams. So, Lucas and his teammates waited until 1959–60. They joined other future NBA players on the Ohio State team. Their coach was Fred Taylor. The team scored many points. They were known for accurate shooting and great rebounding.

After a few early losses, the team lost only one more game. They went on to win the 1960 NCAA national championship. They beat California 75–55. Lucas averaged 26 points per game. He also averaged 16 rebounds. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1960 NCAA Final Four.

In 1960–61, Ohio State was ranked #1. They won 32 games in a row. They reached the NCAA Final again. In March 1961, Lucas had an amazing game against Kentucky. He scored 33 points and grabbed 30 rebounds. This is called a "30–30" game. No other college player has done this in an NCAA tournament game. But in the finals, they lost to the University of Cincinnati.

By 1961–62, Lucas had played a lot of basketball. His knees were sore. But he and the Buckeyes made it to the NCAA final for the third time. Lucas was hurt in the semifinal game. But he still played in the 1962 final. He had said he would never play professionally. Cincinnati beat Ohio State again.

Lucas was named All-American First Team all three years at Ohio State. His jersey number 11 was retired by the college. Many people still think he is the greatest player in the Big Ten. His team won 78 games and lost only 6 during his college years. In 1961, Lucas was named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. He was the first basketball player to win this award.

Olympic Gold and International Games

After winning the 1960 NCAA championship, Lucas joined the 1960 United States men's Olympic basketball team. This team played in the Rome Games. Lucas was a great rebounder. He became the starting center for the U.S. team.

The U.S. team played against the Soviet Union. The Americans won 81–65. Lucas scored 21 points in the gold medal game against Brazil. The U.S. team won the gold medal. Coach Pete Newell called Lucas "the greatest player I ever coached."

Lucas also played in other international games. In 1961, he toured the Soviet Union with a team of U.S. stars. They won all eight games. In 1964, Lucas was part of an NBA team that played in Europe.

Professional Career in the NBA

Lucas didn't plan to become a professional basketball player at first. In 1962, two leagues wanted him. The Cincinnati Royals in the NBA had his rights. But Lucas didn't sign with them right away.

Cincinnati Royals (1963–1969)

In 1963, Lucas finally signed with the Cincinnati Royals. His signing made ticket sales go way up. The Royals team in 1963–64 had three other NBA All-Stars. Lucas played as a power forward. He was great at rebounding and supporting his teammates. He also led the league in shooting accuracy as a rookie.

Lucas had four games with 30 or more rebounds. He even had one game with 40 rebounds! He is the only NBA forward to ever get 40 rebounds in a game. In the 1964 playoffs, Lucas played through an injury. He had a "triple-double" game with 16 points, 10 assists, and 25 rebounds.

In 1964–65 and 1965–66, Lucas had his best seasons. He scored over 21 points per game. He also averaged over 20 rebounds per game. In 1965–66, he averaged 21.1 rebounds. These are still top rebounding records for NBA forwards. Lucas played many minutes in games, often 43–44 minutes. He was named Most Valuable Player of the 1965 NBA All-Star Game.

Lucas was a very smart player. He also started to focus on business outside of basketball. He invested in a fast-food chain called Jerry Lucas Beef N Shakes. He also created children's games. He even published a book about magic card tricks.

In 1967–68, Lucas played very well. He averaged 21.5 points and 19 rebounds. He was second in the league in rebounds and minutes played. He was named First Team All-NBA again. From 1964 to 1968, Lucas averaged 20.5 points and 19.8 rebounds per game. Only Wilt Chamberlain had similar numbers.

In 1969, Lucas faced financial problems. His investments collapsed, and he had to declare bankruptcy.

San Francisco Warriors (1969–1971)

In 1969, Lucas moved to the San Francisco Warriors. He had a broken hand in 1969–70. But he got back in shape for the 1970–71 season. He averaged 19.2 points, 15.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. He was an NBA All-Star for the seventh and final time. The Warriors made the playoffs that year.

New York Knicks (1971–1974)

In 1971, Lucas joined the New York Knicks. The Knicks needed a big player. Their star center, Willis Reed, got injured. So, Lucas had to play center. He was the smallest center in the league. But he had one of his best seasons. He led the Knicks in rebounds and shooting accuracy. He was also second in scoring and assists.

Lucas was a great passing center. His outside shooting forced opponents to guard him far from the basket. The Knicks reached the 1972 NBA finals. Lucas played very well in the playoffs. But New York lost the series.

During this time, Lucas became known for a magic trick. He memorized many pages of the Manhattan White Pages phone book. He amazed people with this memory trick.

In 1972–73, Willis Reed returned. Lucas played less but still helped the team. The Knicks made the NBA finals again. This time, New York won the championship!

This made Lucas one of the first players to win a championship at every level: high school, college, Olympics, and NBA. Only a few other players have done this.

In 1973–74, Lucas played less. He was 34 years old and his body was wearing down. He retired from the NBA after this season. His career average of 15.6 rebounds per game is still one of the highest in league history.

Legacy and Achievements

In 1980, Jerry Lucas was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was chosen in his first year of eligibility. In 1996, the NBA named him one of its 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. In 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Sports Illustrated also named him to their Five Man College Team of the Century.

Lucas is remembered for his amazing fame as a young player. He was also known for being a dominant rebounder, especially for his height. He was a big player who could shoot well from long range. This was a rare combination for his time.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1963–64	Cincinnati	79	—	41.4	.527*	—	.779	17.4	2.6	—	—	17.7
1964–65	Cincinnati	66	—	43.4	.498	—	.814	20.0	2.4	—	—	21.4
1965–66	Cincinnati	79	—	44.5	.453	—	.787	21.1	2.7	—	—	21.5
1966–67	Cincinnati	81*	—	43.9	.459	—	.791	19.1	3.3	—	—	17.8
1967–68	Cincinnati	82	—	44.1	.519	—	.778	19.0	3.3	—	—	21.5
1968–69	Cincinnati	74	—	41.6	.551	—	.755	18.4	4.1	—	—	18.3
1969–70	Cincinnati	4	—	29.5	.514	—	.714	11.3	2.3	—	—	10.3
1969–70	San Francisco	63	—	36.5	.507	—	.786	14.4	2.6	—	—	15.4
1970–71	San Francisco	80	—	40.6	.498	—	.787	15.8	3.7	—	—	19.2
1971–72	New York	77	—	38.0	.512	—	.791	13.1	4.1	—	—	16.7
1972–73	New York	71	—	28.2	.513	—	.800	7.2	4.5	—	—	9.9
1973–74	New York	73	—	22.3	.462	—	.698	5.1	3.2	.4	.3	6.2
Career		829	—	38.8	.499	—	.783	15.6	3.3	.4	.3	17.0
All-Star		7	6	26.1	.547	—	.905	9.1	1.7	—	—	12.7

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1964	Cincinnati	10	—	37.0	.390	—	.703	12.5	3.4	—	—	12.2
1965	Cincinnati	4	—	48.8	.507	—	.773	21.0	2.3	—	—	23.3
1966	Cincinnati	5	—	46.2	.471	—	.771	20.2	2.8	—	—	21.4
1967	Cincinnati	4	—	45.8	.436	—	1.000	19.3	2.0	—	—	12.5
1971	San Francisco	5	—	34.2	.506	—	.688	10.0	3.2	—	—	17.8
1972	New York	16	—	46.1	.500	—	.831	10.8	5.3	—	—	18.6
1973	New York	17	—	21.6	.482	—	.870	5.0	2.3	—	—	7.5
1974	New York	11	—	10.5	.238	—	—	2.0	.8	.4	.0	.9
Career		72	—	32.9	.467	—	.786	10.0	3.0	.4	.0	12.4

Life After Basketball

After his NBA career, Lucas focused on writing and education. In 1974, he co-wrote a best-selling book called The Memory Book. He also created an educational product called the Lucas Learning System. Lucas has written over 70 books. Most of them are about learning or memorization.

Lucas is a Christian. He has memorized large parts of the New Testament. He often gives talks at churches. He is married to Cheri Wulff. They live in Gallipolis, Ohio.

See also

In Spanish: Jerry Lucas para niños

• Mr. Basketball USA
• List of National Basketball Association career rebounding leaders
• List of National Basketball Association players with most rebounds in a game
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders